Ruta del Espinazo del Diablo Durango-Mazatlán
Mexico's most notorious mountain highway
The Devil’s Backbone lives up to its name — 150 miles of narrow mountain highway carved into cliffsides where one wrong move means a 2,000-foot tumble into the Baluarte Canyon. This isn’t just a road, it’s an engineering marvel that follows pre-Columbian trading routes through the Sierra Madre Occidental. The technical challenge peaks at the Baluarte Bridge, the highest cable-stayed bridge in the world, but the real test is the 50 miles of single-lane curves between Villa Unión and El Palmito where oncoming logging trucks own the road.
This is advanced driving territory — you need nerves of steel and a vehicle with solid brakes. Rainy season (June-September) turns the route into a white-knuckle nightmare with zero visibility. Best run is November through March when the air is clear and you can actually see the drops. Fuel up in Durango and carry extra water — services are sparse between the mountain towns. What you get is bragging rights on completing one of North America’s most notorious mountain drives and views that’ll haunt your dreams.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 150 mi / 241.4 km |
| Duration | 8-10 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9200 ft |
| Best season | November-March |
| Minimum vehicle | High clearance vehicle |
| Nearest town | Durango, Durango |
| Land manager | SCT (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes) |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle the Espinazo del Diablo, or does this need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4x4 can run this route — the challenge isn't rock crawling, it's narrow dirt shelf road with 2,000-foot unguarded drops and blind corners. Good brakes, confidence on exposed mountain roads, and no wide aftermarket bumpers hanging over the edge are more important than lift height.
What's the best time of year to drive this and what happens if you go during rainy season?
November through March is the window — dry season keeps the dirt surface stable and visibility clear. June through October brings serious fog, mudslides, and sections that wash out entirely; trucks have gone off the edge in those conditions and there's no one coming to help fast.
Do you need any permits or have to pay tolls to drive the Espinazo del Diablo?
No permits required. There are toll booths on the paved Highway 40 corridor nearby, but the historic dirt route itself has no fees. Carry pesos regardless — small towns along the way are cash-only.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it dangerous?
The most exposed stretch runs through the high Sierra between km 200 and 230 — single-lane dirt shelf cut into vertical cliff faces with no guardrails and near-zero room to pass oncoming traffic. The danger is the combination: altitude, blind curves, loose surface, and trucks that have been running this road for decades and won't slow down for you.
Is there any fuel or services between Durango and Mazatlán on this route, or do you need to carry extra?
There are no reliable fuel stops on the dirt route itself — fill completely in Durango before you leave and carry a spare can. The 150-mile run takes 8-10 hours, cell service is nonexistent the entire way, and the small villages you pass through won't have Pemex stations.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.